I have hiked this trail several times and consider it as close to heaven as a wilderness trail can be. If doing this hike, I'd strongly suggest making the entire hike from the Crow Pass trailhead in Girdwood, to the Eagle River Nature Center. It is 26-28 miles, depending on the trail route each year, but is a hike I have done as a ONE day hike, 6 times. I have taken friends who have never hiked more than a mile and I take my miniature Schnauzer as well. You will be sore, tired and no doubt have few blisters, but take a camera, neoprene socks for crossing the river at 15 miles in, plenty of water and enough food for the day and you will always be glad you did it.
I live in the Matanuska Valley here in AK and have climbed most of the surrounding mountains, I am a 47 year old female and never have claimed to be an athelete of any sort. If I can do it, YOU CAN!

From the campsite to the nature center, the eagle river valley trail system provides amazing beauty and ease of travel for the whole family!(I have four kids 7-3 and they managed better than I did) The nature center and trails from there are a definite no-miss for any level of hiker/outdoor adventurer. A trip to south fork falls should be a mandatory stop as well. A short trail to a breath taking falls. If you are in the area you need to stop by!!

Good trail, fairly easy terrain with a few up and downs. Watch out for BEES!! Also, when filling up on water we found that it would have been best to fill up whenever coming across a "clear" stream. Most of the tributaries to Eagle River are glacial runoffs, resulting in milky/grey water which destroyed our water filter after one use.

This was an awesome hike!! We hiked it over the summer, and the climb to Crow's Pass was still pretty snowy. Crossing that river is an experience I'll never forget. We saw quite a few people, especially at either end. Still you do get a chance to get away from it all here. A definite must for those that want the Alaska Experience, but in a "safe" enviroment.